Improvement in sheet-metal cans



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HERMAN MILLER, OF NEW YORK., N. Y. Leners Peeemive. 86,571, aerea Beteta/ry 2, 1869.

IIIPRVEMENT IN SHEET-METAL CANS.

The Schedule referred to in theseL'ettex-s iatent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERMAN'MILLER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Metal Cans; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication, in which- Figure -1 is a vertical section of a'can, with my improvements.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section ofthe same.

Figure 3 is a vertical, section of the lower part of one side of a can, showing a modification of my invention.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section of one of the verti-. caljointsin the line :z: :c of fig. l.. Y

Figure 5 is a holizontal section of 'a modication of the vertical joint.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This'invention relates in part to the. soldered seams by which the plates which form the sides of sheet-metal cans are longitudinally united, more especially to the seams of cans which are of square form in their transverse section.

`.F.Ieretofore the longitudinal seams of square sheetmetal cans have been made at the corners thereof, and while the corners have been stiiiened and strengthened by the seam, the sides have been left Weak, andl liable to be bulged. p

One object of my invention is to provide for the greater 'stifening of the whole body of the can; and to this end,

It consists in uniting the plates which form the sides :of the can, at or near the middle of the sides, or at a distaucefrom the longitudinal corners thereof, by means of one or morelap-joints or seams, formed of three thicknesses of metal, and projecting inward at a right angle, or thereabouts, to their respective side or sides, and so form ribs or pillars to strengthen or stiffen the side or sides, the longitudinal corners ,being formed by the bending of the plates. In this way a better distribution-of the strength and stiffness of the can is obtained, for the bending of the plates' alone gives the requisite stiffness at the corners, and the seams or joints give the requisite stiffness to the sides. Besides this advantage of the more uniform distribution of the strength and stiffness of the can, the bending of the plates atan acute angle to the sides of the can, Which is necessary to form an internal rib or pillar at the corners of the can, is avoided, and moreover', greater facility is afforded for soldering, especially when it is desired to solder the side seams, by dipping them into melted solder, which is the most economical method, inasmuch asl the labor of soldering is less, and can be performe by an inferior class of Workmen.

My invention also consists in a novel construction of the internally-projecting seam, whereby greater strength is obtained.

The sides of the can may be formed, according to the `size of the can, of one,two, or four plates, B B, Vbent as at ca, to form the corners; and the lap-joints or seams A A, projecting inwardly into the can, in the form' of ribs, are formed by turning inward one of the edges ofthe plate at a right angle, as shown at b b in gs. 2, 4, and 5, and turning inwardthe other edge, which is to be connected with it in a similar Vvmanner, as shown at c c, and doubling it to receive the turnedin edge of the corresponding part b,jas shown at d d in the same figures. The lap d of the joint may terminate on the part b, close to the angle, but as this would necessitate a very exact trimming ofthe plates, which are not of uniform size, I prefer to leave margin enough to enable it to be bent again at a right angle, as shown at e in figs. 2 and 4, to lap against the main portion of the plate within the angle formed by l1,for as the Width of this turned- -in portion e is immaterial, the' plate will then need no trimming, and the said portion c adds strength to the joint, and stiffness to the side of the can.

The edges having thus been bent, the single portion b of one edge is inserted between the double portion c .d of the other, and pinched together tightly with a suitable instrument, preparatory to soldering, which may be done by applying solder to the exterior of the joint with a soldering-iron, or by dipping the rib A' into a suitable trough containing melted solder. 4

In order, however, to insure the greater strength of the joint, and to guard against-the longitudinal displacement of the parts before and 'during the soldering, I prefer generally, after pinching the parts together, as described, and before soldering, to make, with a punch and die, or series of punches and dies, or by means ofnclamps or rollers, a series of indentions, ff, at short intervals along one side of the joint, thereby producing -a corresponding series of protuberauces, g g, along the other side, and so causing each of the three thicknesses of metal, b c d, of which the'I joint is formed, to indent itself into or be indented into by the contiguous piece on either' side, as shown in tig. 4.

The sides of the can thus formed with inwardly-projecting or lap-j oints, forming ribs or pillars A on the inside, may have the top and bottom, or heads, (l C, tted' and secured to them in any suitable manner, as, for instance, in the now Well-known manner shown in fig. 3, but I propose, as a better means of preventing the bulging out of the top and bottom, or heads, by pressure, to turn the edges of the latter outward at a right angle, as shown at h h in fig. 1, to t within the interior of the sides of the can, and to double or turn over the sides, as shown at t 'i in the same figure, and then tol solder the parts h h. between the parts i t' and the sides of the can, either by dipping into melted solder, or by means of a soldering-iron and solder.

This joint is the reverse ofthe joint shown in fig. 3 2. The securing of the two parts, forming the seam,

between the sides and bottom. in piace, by means of indentation-s or depressions f g What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure inthe seam b c d, as shown and described.

by Letters Patent, is- 7 HERMAN MILLER.

1'. The lap or bend e of the edge of the plate, in com- Witnesses:

bination with the internal1y-projecting seam b c d, for HENRY T. BROWN, giving additional strength to said seam, as herein shown ARTE UR KINNIER. and described. 

